Speaker series spotlightswomen inmathematics AlumJaclyn Cosgrove shares journalistic advice at annual lecture series Oklahoma State University’s School of Media and Strategic Communications (SMSC) gathered in the Student Union Theater on April 13 for the 34th annual Paul Miller lecture series. This year’s keynote speaker — Jaclyn Cosgrove, assistant city editor at the Los Angeles Times — gave their presentation titled, “How to Succeed as a Good Human (And Journalist).” Through times when they reported on lives lost in Oklahoma tornadoes and even a story they wrote about the family The Department of Mathematics is aiming to inspire Oklahoma State University students to pursue careers in mathematics through its Distinguished Women inMathematics Colloquium Series, with particular focus on sharing its message with women and other gender minorities. Every semester, math faculty members identify successful female mathematicians to invite to campus. For four days, invitees —many of whom have national awards, prestigious grants or International Congress of Mathematics of a victim of Charles Manson, Cosgrove stressed the importanceof being kind and respectful when in the journalism field. “You are a human first and journalist second, that is really important to remember,” Cosgrove said. Recalling a time when they had to break the news to families whose relatives passed away while in prison, Cosgrove emphasized the importance of reporters taking care of their own mental health. “I had to be the one to tell them that because I was going to print that in the Jaclyn Cosgrove speaks at the Paul Miller Lecture Series in April. STORIES SAM MILEK AND SYDNEY HOLDER | PHOTO GARY LAWSON speaking engagements — present their findings and interact with OSU research groups, bringing to life diverse areas of expertise that inform undergraduates and inspire senior theses. “I personally benefited a lot from Dr. SusanMorey’s visit in fall 2021, as it tremendously helped strengthen my research connection with her,” said Dr. Alessandra Costantini, a postdoctoral fellow in the math department. “This positive experience motivated me to join the colloquium’s organizational team in 2022, and the OSU Chapter of the Association for Women inMathematics, which Dr. Bella Tobin and Dr. Neil The informal conversations with the invited speaker are helpful in teaching students to find the beauty in mathematics, to persist through the challenges that come with studying this field, and to build their research networks and involvement in department activities. Stay in the loop about future DistinguishedWomen inMathematics Colloquium events by visiting math.okstate.edu/awm. newspaper,” Cosgrove said. “To this day, it’s a tie for the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” A 2009 SMSC grad originally from Arpelar, Oklahoma, Cosgrove began their career as a journalist in high school as an intern for the McAlester News-Capital. They went on to write for The O’Colly, Sand Springs Leader, OklahomaWatch and The Oklahoman before joining the LATimes in 2017. In 2022, they earned a Master of Legal Studies degree from the UCLA School of Law. The Paul Miller lecture series was established by the 1931 OSU graduate of the same name who headed the Gannett newspaper chain and the Associated Press in his career. It is funded through OSU and the College of Arts and Sciences to continueMiller’s legacy of ethical and accurate journalism. Dr. Jared Johnson, professor and interim director of SMSC, said he is grateful the school continues to have the lecture series each year. “It’s really important in today’s world, because we need good journalism more than ever,” Johnson said. “And this is a way to teach the incoming journalism students that they canmake an impact in the world and especially given this last lecture, do it in a way that is humane and kind.” OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SC I ENCES 25
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